Question 71
How is justification an act of God’s free grace?
Although Christ, by his obedience and death, did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God’s justice in the behalf of them that are justified;a yet inasmuch as God accepteth the satisfaction from a surety, which he might have demanded of them, and did provide this surety, his own only Son,b imputing his righteousness to them,c and requiring nothing of them for their justification but faith,d which also is his gift,e their justification is to them of free grace.f
How is justification an act of God’s free grace?
Although Christ, by his obedience and death, did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God’s justice in the behalf of them that are justified;a yet inasmuch as God accepts the satisfaction from a surety, which he might have demanded of them, and did provide this surety, his own only Son,b imputing his righteousness to them,c and requiring nothing of them for their justification but faith,d which also is his gift,e their justification is to them of free grace.f
a. Romans 5:8–10, 19
Romans 5:8–10; Romans 5:19
5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
5:8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 5:9 Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him! 5:10 For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
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b. 1 Timothy 2:5–6; Hebrews 10:10; Matthew 20:28; Daniel 9:24, 26; Isaiah 53:4–6, 10–12; Hebrews 7:22; Romans 8:32; 1 Peter 1:18–19
1 Timothy 2:5–6
2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 2:6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all-the testimony that was given at just the right time.
Hebrews 10:10
10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
10:10 And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Matthew 20:28
20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
Daniel 9:24; Daniel 9:26
9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
9:24 Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. 9:26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed.
Isaiah 53:4–6; Isaiah 53:10–12
53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 53:10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
53:4 Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted. 53:5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 53:6 We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. 53:10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. 53:11 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. 53:12 Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
Hebrews 7:22
7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
7:22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
Romans 8:32
8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
8:32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
1 Peter 1:18–19
1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1:18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, 1:19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.
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c. 2 Corinthians 5:21
2 Corinthians 5:21
5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
5:21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
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d. Romans 3:24–25
Romans 3:24–25
3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
3:24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 3:25 God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.
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e. Ephesians 2:8
Ephesians 2:8
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
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f. Ephesians 1:7
Ephesians 1:7
1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
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